Jerusalem -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- A former foreign minister joined Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu 's future governing coalition and has been tapped to lead peace talks with the Palestinians .

Tzipi Livni and her centrist Hatnua party will be part of a government headed by Likud-Beitenu , the political movement headed by the prime minister . Livni , a former opposition leader , foreign minister and justice minister , will again serve in the justice minister post .

Hatnua , which means `` movement , '' is the first party to join a Netanyahu 's coalition .

There has been a lot of political jockeying among a range of movements since last month 's national elections . Among those are centrists , rightists , and ultra-Orthodox groups .

Netanyahu , who was chosen to pick a government after his party won the most votes in the election , wants to build a broad coalition -- one that easily surpasses the 60-seat majority in the 120-member Knesset , Israel 's parliament .

`` The threats coming from Iran , Syria and the Hezbollah have not stopped for a moment and in order to give an answer to these threats we need to form a wide and stable government , '' Netanyahu said .

Livni , who campaigned on the importance of the peace process , thanked Netanyahu .

`` The obligation to the diplomatic process and the confidence that has been bestowed on us led to this partnership , a partnership that came about after we had talks and I received the appropriate powers to be the negotiator of the State of Israel to get to the end of the conflict with the Palestinians on the basis of the two-state solution , '' she said .

Pundits are saying that Livni will play an important role in welcoming U.S. President Barack Obama in his upcoming visit to the region .

CNN 's Mike Schwartz reported from Jerusalem . CNN 's Joe Sterling reported from Atlanta

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Tzipi Livni is a former justice minister

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Her centrist party , Hatnua , is the first to join the future coalition

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Livni will play a role in welcoming U.S. President Barack Obama to Israel